Boy tries to sexually assault woman at school | UPDATE

Peterborough This Week

(PETERBOROUGH) A 13-year-old boy is facing sexual assault charges after a female staff member in a Peterborough elementary school in Peterborough was attacked on Wednesday (Jan. 16) afternoon.
Inspector Ted Boynton, with the Peterborough-Lakefield police, says the incident occurred around 3:10 p.m. just after class ended. He wouldn’t say if the victim was a teacher.
“The staff member was exiting through the door when she was jumped from behind,” he adds.
“She was shoved and punched several times and forced to the ground. She was choked, but managed to scream.”
Police say the suspect attempted to remove some of the victim’s clothing, but fled the school before the incident escalated any further. Insp. Boynton says other staff members inside the school heard the woman’s screams and a commotion, which may have prompted the teen to flee.
“He fled and ran out of the school,” says Insp. Boynton. Staff saw him running out of the school.”
Police were notified and contacted the boy’s parents. Insp. Boynton says his parents brought the boy back to the school where he was arrested and placed into police custody. He was held overnight on charges of sexual assault and overcoming resistance to commit indictable offence (choking). The boy appeared in court on Thursday (Jan. 17).
“We held him because of the seriousness of the crime and wanted to make sure courts dealt with him to determine what his future will be,” says Insp. Boynton.
He adds police have had dealings with the boy in the past, but not to this extent. The boy’s name is not being released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Insp. Boynton says this is a “very serious incident.” He adds the victim is quite traumatized by the ordeal, stating members of the force’s Victim’s Services Unit have been in contact with the woman.
Peter Mangold, superintendent of education with the local public school board, wouldn’t provide insight into how the victim is doing. He did say he was shocked when he learned of what happened.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” says Mr. Mangold.
“This is very uncommon. The biggest thing is 'How is our staff member?' They have the right to feel safe when they go to work.”
He adds counselling in available for the woman through the school board’s employee assistance program.